Jan 31, 2007 - Claremont, Calif. - Jim Erickson '75 was named project manager of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in December 2006. Previously, Erickson was deputy project manager for the orbiter program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter began orbiting Mars in March 2006 and began the science phase of its mission in November. The Orbiter successfully arrived at Mars on March 10, 2006. Since then, the mission has shown unprecedented detail in orbital images of Mars.

Previously, Erickson was project manager for NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, where he worked with fellow alumni Todd Litwin '79, Laura Newlin '85 and Roger Klemm '87. Before that he was project manager for NASA's Galileo mission to Jupiter.

During more than three decades at JPL, Erickson worked on the Viking missions to Mars, the Voyager missions to outer planets, and the Mars Observer mission. In addition to his bachelor's degree in applied physics from Harvey Mudd College, he earned a master's in business administration and project management from West Coast University, Los Angeles. He lives in Glendale with his wife Emily and daughter Robyn.

"I'm really happy to be where I am in my career," Erickson said. "HMC prepared me very well for all aspects of the jobs that I've done through the years. I owe a lot to Mudd and to JPL. There is always a lot of luck in any career path and I've been very fortunate that opportunities opened up at the right times for me."

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

Information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is available at http://www.nasa.gov/mro.